Water-guard for trolley ropes or poles



No. 622,225. Patented Apr. 4, I899.

' T. HAWKEN.

WATER GUARD FOR TROLLEY ROPES 0R PDLES.

(Application filed. Oct. 81, 1898.)

(No mam.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS I-IAWKEN, OF ROGKLAND, MAINE.-

WATER-GUARD FOR TROLLEY ROPES OR POLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent vNo; 622,225, dated Apri1'4, 1899.- Application filed October 31, 1898. Serial No. 695,037- o 11105610 To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS HAWKEN, of Rockland,county of Knox, and State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Water- Guards for Trolley Ropes or Poles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a trolley-rope and trolley-pole with means for preventing water from running down the rope or pole.

At the present time, so far as I am aware, no means have been provided which embraces the trolley rope or pole for the purpose of preventing the water from running down the trolley rope or pole in wet weather, and as a consequence the water drips onto the plat: form and dashboard of the car and spatters the passengers on the platform, and when the water is more or less discolored, as it usually is by reason of contact with the corrosion on the trolley-wire, the clothing of the passengers is oftentimes seriously injured by the dripping water.

The invention consists in the construction of a suitable guard and in the application of said guard to the trolley-rope and also to a trolley-pole, either or both, as may be desired, and said guard is herein shown as a conical block of any suitable materiel-say rubber' having a hole through it for the rope or pole, and said conical block when thusconstructed may be slid onto the rope or pole and held by friction or otherwise. As herein shown, the conical block is made more or less hollow for lightness, yet this is immaterial, so far as its capability of shedding water is concerned.

Figure 1 shows a portion of an electric car having a trolley-pole and a trolley-rope provided with means embodying this invention for preventing Water from running down the pole or rope. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of one of the guards on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the guards. Fig. 4 is a modification showing the guard made of two parts or sections secured together, and Fig. 5 is a modification showing a guard of a different form.

The guard herein shown consists of a conical block a, of any suitable material-as rubber, for instance- -made more or less hollow, as shown in Fig. 2, and having a vertical hole through it, whereby it may be slid onto the trolley rope or pole. The vertical hole may be made of such size that the guard will hold itself by friction on the rope or pole.

. The guard, when made of rubber, may be molded as is customary in making articles of rubber, yet it is obvious that it may be made of any other suitable material and also of any other suitable shape.

When applied to the trolley-rope or to the trolley-pole, or both, as may be desired, the water, which, as above stated, is usually more or less discolored, will be prevented from running down the trolley-rope or trolley-pole, and the nuisance now existing is obviated, and also the hands of the conductor or other person manipulating the trolley-rope will not be stained.

The guard may be made in one piece, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or it may be made in parts or sections, as shownin Fig. 4, said parts orsections being cemented or otherwise secured together.

The guard may be formed with an upturned lower edge, if desired, and in some instances such form will be preferred.

I claim-' 1. A guard for a trolley rope or pole, consisting of a block having a hole through it, said block adapted to embrace the rope or pole and be adjusted to any point thereon for the purpose of shedding water at such point, substantially as described.

2. A guard for a trolley rope or pole, consisting of a conical block having a hole through it, said block adapted to embrace the rope or pole and be adjusted to any point thereon, for the purpose of shedding water at such point, substantially as described.

3. A guard for a trolley rope or pole, consistin g of a block comprising sections adapted to be secured together and having a hole through it, said block adapted to embrace the rope or pole and be adjusted to any point thereon for the purpose of shedding water at such point, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, THOMAS HAwKEv. Witnesses:

D. H. SLIDDEN, D. N. MAITLAND. 

